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Forecasts of severe weather in Almería proved uncomfortably accurate this Sunday January 25, as powerful winds battered large parts of the province and reached an extraordinary 180kmh in the inland town of Alcolea.

 

The 180kmh extreme gust was recorded by the Southeast Meteorological Network (Ametse) in the Alpujarra Almeriense area, far from Almería’s Cabo de Gata coast and on the way up to the Sierra Nevada mountains of Granada. In the same area, winds of up to 103kmh were measured in Monterrey, a village within the municipality of Laujar de Andarax.

 

Several other locations also experienced fierce conditions, including Macael with 95kmh and El Chirral de Oria with 93.6kmh. Padules, Benizalón, Somontín and Vélez-Rubio all recorded gusts close to or above 85kmh during the morning of Sunday.

 

It was also incredibly windy along the coast; the entire Almería coastline remained under an orange alert for coastal phenomena throughout Sunday, with Aemet warning of easterly winds at gale force 8, reaching between 60 and 70kmh, combined with waves of three to five metres high.

 

The forecast for this week in Almería and the rest of Spain is for rain and more strong winds that will mean the province and much of Andalucía and the country as a whole are under weather warnings all week long as Storm Joseph swoops in from the Atlantic.

 

 

Spain’s 112 emergency service has a series of self-protection recommendations for when it gets as windy as this. Residents are advised to close doors and windows and to remove outdoor items such as flower pots, awnings, chairs and clotheslines that could be blown loose and cause injury.

 

It is also a good idea to avoid sheltering near walls, fences or trees while outdoors, and to take particular care around buildings under construction or in poor condition.

 

In coastal areas, emergency rescue services warn against going near beaches or low-lying zones exposed to rough seas and high waves. Road travel should be avoided wherever possible, but for those who must drive, officials stress the importance of following traffic regulations and keeping up to date through official channels.

 

Drivers caught in strong winds are advised not to remain inside their vehicles and to seek a safer place to take shelter.

 

Image: Dynamoland